Summary: A pregnant Rin comes back to the only home she's ever known.

Chapter one

Rin

Spring's beauty and grace flourished, dancing around her as a small smile graced her lips at the fond memories that filled every corner of her childhood haven. A butterfly's graceful flutter caught her eye as it landed on one of many blossoms spread before eyes and beyond. How she missed this place in her travels, she yearned to run and laugh like she did all those years ago. Many things kept her from reliving her childhood.

Her hands, once at her side, extended to catch the floating butterfly. A small, childlike giggle escaped her lips as the butterfly landed on her index finger, slightly fluttering its multicolored wings. Slowly she brought her hand closer to her face, the tiny creature fluttered slightly but remained. Staring intently, she smiled. During her youth, she'd spent idle afternoons chasing butterflies and it still amazed her that all she had to do wasput her hand out and let them come to her.

The wind stirred, combing her long ebony hair as it breezed passed, taking with it her small company. "Rin"

She looked up, subconsciously wrapping her arms around on stomach to hold her hands at her sides, a habit she just recently received. " Lord Sesshoumaru I've missed you." She took in his slightly changed features. His skin still rivaled the moon in its pale complexion, his molten gold eyes shone fiercely, like the sun, but now there was a gentleness that only she (as well as a few select others) could see in them. Then there was his hair that she adored, and when she was younger, she'd played with it. Now it had grown longer, and he'd taken to pulling it into a high ponytail that reached his ankles. His familiar armor was long gone, but his swords still graced his hips of course.

She walked toward him head high as he had taught her. Smiling brightly as he patted her head just like he had all those years ago. Giggling like a child, she hugged him fiercely, her head barely coming to his shoulder. He stood there and allowed it looking down at her, which what could be considered affection.

He studied her, carefully taking in everything that had changed about his young ward. Of course she had grown and had become a woman; twenty five summers old as of now. Still she was but a child compared to him. She developed, as anyone should. Her lop-sided ponytail had disappeared, replaced by a long braid that flowed to her hips. He was curious why she sought him out five years after she left to live in a human village to become a priestess. He watched as she sighed then walked slightly away to a stone bench off to the side of the garden.

"Milord, I'm sure you are curious as to why I come to you now, after five years requesting to leave." Not waiting for an answer she continued, "when I left to live in the village, I was excited yet scared... Since the only beings I've known was you, milord, and of course Jaken. While away from you, I realize the world isn't as beautiful as I envisioned it, but I adore it all the same. I learned so much, but all of that didn't prepare me for what was to come. A year ago this village was partially destroyed by a wolf demon tribe.

The tribe later fled, but the wounded were left behind. Of the wounded there was a wolf demon called Oren. Against the wishes of my teacher I helped him, and I came to have feelings for him quickly... and foolishly. When my teacher found out she was appalled, and told me to end it." Tears started to fall from Rin's eyes. "But it was too late; I had given myself to him, willingly. The elders found out and threatened to kill me and my teacher.

They demanded that I killed Oren to prove myself a true priestess. When I couldn't, my sensei did it for me. She killed him and banished me from the village." Rin's sobs had somewhat calmed she fell to her knees in front of Sesshoumaru. "I come to you my lord, because I know not what to do. I'm with child… a half-breed child and I am alone. I know of your distaste for half-breeds, I beg you... please don't turn me away."

Sesshoumaru stared at his ward, now realizing what he hadn't noticed before. Her smell had changed because her blood was saturated with the slightest demonic aura. It proved her tale. She was, indeed, carrying a half- breed child. His disgust for that kind had 'slightly' faded with years, but it was still there.

"Milord, please don't turn me away. You have always been all I have! Please, don't punish my unborn child because of my foolishness," she pleaded, holding back tears that threatened to spill from her watering eyes when he didn't answer.

Sesshoumaru stared at his ward with an unreadable expression. "Come," he commanded tonelessly.

Rin looked up at her lord hopefully, only to see him walking to the castle she had roamed as a child. Wiping her eyes with her sleeves, she quickly followed him. Her hands folded in front of her, secretly caressing her unborn child through the fabric of her kimono.

Later Rin settled into her old room. It was still furnished as beautifully as it had been when she'd left. A smile tugged her lips at the memories that traced every thing in this room. A knock brought her from her musings.

"Enter"

Sesshoumaru walked in. "Rin," he called as he stepped aside to allow in another. An older female demon stepped into the room. Her hair looked like flowing gold and sliver, and she had dark purple eyes that accentuated the lilac stripes on her cheeks and the tiny purple dot on her forehead.

The unknown female approached her. Rin visibly tensed and reflexively her hands rose to her stomach, encircling it protectively.

"Aye, child, calm yourself…. stress isn't good for the pup. Relax…my name is Aya. I'm a healer and a midwife," she stated, noticing that at the word midwife, the girl had relaxed somewhat, though her hands never left her stomach. Aya approached Rin and reached out, lightly caressing her swollen belly. She shut her eyes and concentrated as if she were trying to picture the child as it would be once born. The healer opened her eyes, and then smiled brightly. "Lady Rin, what a healthy beautiful child you will have!" she continued, talking more to herself than anyone else. "Oh how I've missed having a pup in the castle!! It's been so long since I've heard the sounds of children running through these halls." Then as if realizing she was still in the room and everything she said was heard, she smiled. "Lady Rin, I welcome you and your pup into the western lands and into Lord Sesshoumaru's castle," She said caressing the unborn pup.

Aya skipped to the door and all was quiet as she peaked her head out as if looking for danger, before turning and looking back. "Oh Rin, we'll have to get you some new kimonos you won't fit those when that pup decides to grow!" Then she was gone.

Sesshoumaru turned to leave as well but before he could, she called out to him: "Milord! Wait!" He looked to her. "Thank you, I can't express what this means to me."

He turned away, pausing slightly. "Welcome home Rin." And then he walked on as if he never spoken at all.

Rin smiled, some things never change. Caressing her stomach she hummed gently as if to soothe the growing child.

Spring gave way to summer's heat, which made Rin with her swelling stomach miserable. During these times she enjoyed soaking her feet in the coolness of the koi pond and watching the fish swim, which calm her raging emotions. She also found that she enjoyed speaking to her growing child. She loved to feel it move within her. It filled her with warmth she couldn't describe in words. Every time it moved, she couldn't help but smile.

She giggled softly, recalling the first time she felt her child move.

She must have scared the whole castle screaming, swearing there was an evil sprit in her stomach trying to rip its way out. Aya had laughed at her, which scared her even more. Lord Sesshoumaru simply ignored Aya and told her that it was simply her pup. Rin was shocked she instantly rubbed her swelling tummy as if to apologize for calling it an evil spirit.

Aya finally slowed her laughing and caressed the swell of child also. "Oh my, the pup is getting so strong. We'll be able to sense the sex soon. Aye, very soon," Aya murmured with a smile.

Rin went a bit misty eyed at the memory. She couldn't help but notice that Aya still smiled with glee every time she saw Rin rub her swelling stomach after a kick from the pup. The youkai midwife was very fond of teasing her about her lack of knowledge when it came to her changing body and growing child. Aya liked to ask if the 'evil sprit' still bothered her. Rin knew she was only having a bit of fun, but still she worried that not knowing these things would affect her being a good mother. All doubts vanished when she felt the child move under her hand, nudging her. She smiled and hummed again gazing deeply into the koi pond.

Rin was lying on the bed trying to see Aya, who was checking her pup's progress, but, alas, she couldn't see anything in this position pass her growing tummy.

"Well, Rin dear, you'll give birth in fall, like I expected, "Aya stated.

"Fall?! It hasn't been 9 months how could it be that far along!" Rin exclaimed, clearly confused.

"Aye... child, most pregnancy in demons lasts only three months but being that your child is a half-breed, it'll take six," Aya explained, staring at Rin with a knowing smile. The midwife briefly caressed Rin's stomach, earning a light nudge from the baby. She laughed. "Quite an active pup, or should I say evil sprit!" At this Rin frowned, which caused Aya to laugh harder. She attempted to remove her hand when Rin grabbed it.

"What is it?" Rin asked, holding Aya's hand to her stomach.

"It's a growing pup!"

"Aya..." Rin growled playfully, the healer had known what she meant. "Is it a girl or a boy?!!"

"Ah, wonder when you were going to ask..." the healer said, ignoring Rin's irritated huff of annoyance. "I think we shall ask Lord Sesshoumaru." She opened the door and called out to him: "Milord, Rin requests your help with finding out the sex of her pup."

"Aya if you can't tell her the sex of her pup then why do I bother to keep you around? Clearly, you can't do your job if you are asking this Sesshoumaru for assistance, perhaps I should rid myself of you," he replied in bored tone.

"AH! Your idle threats mean nothing to me. I brought both you and your father into this world! I am the best, and you know it. But I do apologize... I thought perhaps you'd rather know now than later! Now come... come... tell your ward the sex of her pup."

Sesshoumaru approached Rin and slowly put his hand on her distended stomach. His face remained set in stone as he felt the tiny child move against his hand. Truth be told, he was shocked. He'd never felt anything like it! Again the small pup nudged against his hand. He moved his palm across her stomach, just barely touching it before lifting it away.

Rin titled her head and spoke softly: "Milord?"

Sesshoumaru turned and left without a word. He'd only just gotten to the door before Aya stopped him.

"So?" Aya questioned with that ever present smile of hers.

"It's a girl," he stated and left.

AN: Okay, I wrote this in 07 and found it buried in my email saved folder. So I decided to see what people thought it. I only have six chapters of it typed out. So we'll see if I finished it. Oh I own nothing but Aya, she's an OC, who's old and a bit insane, I slightly based her on Ayame from Fruits baskets, but mostly just stole the name. I think it's been a long two years. Oh the title of this is up for debate. If you have a better one let me know. all suggestions are accepted and welcomed.